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[Will B]

Hi all

How often do you guys recommend to change the oil in my auto transmission? as when I bought the car the service history said nothing about having it done? or the interval it should be done at.

also where is a good place to source new fluid?

cheers   

[feeutfo]

60 to 80k acording to oof recomended service schedules in faq(?) i think. Sooner rather than later if its done a lot of towing.

Fuchs titan 4000 (dexron 3) from a factors, german and swedish stock fuchs oils round these parts. But any half decent dex3 atf will do the job, its all made to the same spec anyway.

[sjc]

Just make sure you get everything you need (gaskets, filter & oil) before you start.  Also be prepared for the old gaskets to have super-glued themselves in place meaning that you have to scrape them off the mating faces of the box and sumps.

[sjc]

Oh, and also...

If you get a big can of oil (instead of several small ones with the fill tubes on them) then the easiest way to get it into the box is to use a length of small diameter hose and a suitable funnel running from the engine bay into the box.  Fuel hose does the trick nicely.

Feed the hose down from the back of the engine bay towards the box, go underneath and pop the end into the filler hole just enough so the oil will go in and cable tie it up so it won't fall out and keeping it off of the exhaust - as the guide says, you'll need to have the engine running for the final top-up.  Attach your funnel to the end in the engine bay, again, I use a couple of cable ties to support the combined weight of the hose and the funnel full of oil.  Ideally you don't want the hose to be lower than the filler hole anywhere along it's length.  Now smile smugly as you fill it without it half of it running down your arm!

[kcl]

Is there any need to move the car during the operation? My plan is to put the car on some pallets to get it higher, 3-4 pallets under each wheel should give enough room and the car would be level to ensure correct oil level etc.

[sjc]

Is there any need to move the car during the operation? My plan is to put the car on some pallets to get it higher, 3-4 pallets under each wheel should give enough room and the car would be level to ensure correct oil level etc.

Not at all sure that sounds safe... but, no, there's no need to move the car, however, strictly speaking you should take it for a short run afterwards then re-check the level with the engine still running.

[kcl]

What is the unsafe part of that? A pallet can easily carry a load of one ton. Far more reliable than jack or axle stands and plus easier to get the car high enough.

[Kevin Wood]

What is the unsafe part of that? A pallet can easily carry a load of one ton. Far more reliable than jack or axle stands and plus easier to get the car high enough.

It might take a ton evenly distributed over its' surface but a car sits on a pretty small contact patch. I would favour axle stands.

The other factor is that you need to car level to fill the auto box, although you could fill it while jacked up, drop it down to let any excess drain out, and then jack it back up to put the plug back in (all with the engine idling, of course).

Kevin

[sjc]

What is the unsafe part of that? A pallet can easily carry a load of one ton. Far more reliable than jack or axle stands and plus easier to get the car high enough.

But is that not a ton spread across the whole pallet rather than a 6 sq/in patch?

I was simply thinking that the tyre would go straight through the planks but I can't say I've tried it myself.

[sjc]

Beat me to it.

[Cliffo B]

Don't forget proper level is made with car level and engine running just thought I'd mention

[kcl]

Ok, point taken and will have to find high enough axle stands... or put some 2"x6" under the wheels...

Yes, the car will be level when all wheels are on the pallets.

Axle stands: running the car with rear wheels off the ground (assuming stands are under the donut bushes) will harm the drive shafts... :-?

[sjc]

Ok, point taken and will have to find high enough axle stands... or put some 2"x6" under the wheels...

Yes, the car will be level when all wheels are on the pallets.

Axle stands: running the car with rear wheels off the ground (assuming stands are under the donut bushes) will harm the drive shafts... :-?

I have a set of home-made ramps made out of 2" x 8" layered to create a slope on one side - much less gradient that standard metal ones which is great for lowered cars 

If you're worried about the rears turning while off the ground, leave the handbrake on.

You do all this with it in Park anyway mate.

[Kevin Wood]

I have a set of home-made ramps made out of 2" x 8" layered to create a slope on one side - much less gradient that standard metal ones which is great for lowered cars 

If you're worried about the rears turning while off the ground, leave the handbrake on.

You do all this with it in Park anyway mate.

Agreed. In fact, I doubt it would harm the drive shafts. It is good practice to run the box through all gear positions before checking the level to ensure it is fully "bled".

Kevin

[Sir Tigger KC]

Why is there no drain plug??  :-/  and could the sump be drilled and a sump plug fitted??